CARSON CITY — A plan to create a network of medical marijuana clinics — with the owners paying hefty licensing fees — was approved by the Nevada Senate Finance Committee today.

The bill, SB 374, would limit the number of dispensaries to one for every ten pharmacies in a county. But it sets a maximum of 40 dispensaries in Clark County; ten in Washoe County; two in Carson City and one each in the remaining counties.

A person who applies for a state license to operate a marijuana clinic must have $150,000 in liquid assets and pay $20,000 for an initial license and $5,000 for an annual renewal.

The bill would require an up-front $5,000 fee to cover processing and background checks by the state Health Division.

The bill, which now goes to the floor of the Senate, would require the clinics to impose a $10 fee on each prescription transaction, with the money collected going to the state.

Those involved in the ownership or working in the facilities would be required to undergo a background check and would not be eligible if convicted of a prior felony. Those selling the marijuana also would be barred from working if behind in court-ordered child support.

There is also a license fee for those who would grow medical marijuana and produce edible marijuana products.

The initial cultivation license would cost $3,000, plus a $1,000-a-year renewal fee. The fee for a facility that produces edible marijuana would be $2,000 with a $750 annual renewal fee.

Dispensaries could not be located within 1,000 feet of a public school.

Those with a prescription for marijuana from a doctor would not be allowed to consume the drug on the premises of the clinic.

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I am not in agreement with this bill as it takes away patients right to cultivate their own medicine once a dispensary is opened in your county of residence. While it doens't apply for a few very specific reasons, I cannot support this bill unless this section is removed. Link to the amended bill is below:

A good general knows not only how to fight, but which battles to fight. For those of you who do not support the bill please do the rest of us a favor and just shut up. I am tired of the whining. Yes, taking away home growing is absolute BS. But the only way we will be able to change that is by making our presence known. And that is done by passing this bill, opening dispensaries, standing together by forming a political action committee and lobby for policy changes in the next legislative session. This is not done by killing a great bill because of one amendment. You are seeking to take away any potential power and voice that we are due to recieve because we can't grow a couple plants at home? They want to give you massive growing permits! Buy one if you are that good at it. If you cant afford it, then band together with a couple of other activists, start a company and go for it. This is called "going into business" and it is how a modern capatilistic society opperates these days. Deal with it.... Personally I find cannabis growing to be time consuming, expensive and frustrating. Most patients prefer to go shop at a dispensary because of the overwhelming variety and quality of medicine available. The fact that the local mmj community has "split" on this issue is ridiculous and borderline hilarious. Stand together or be swept under the rug by those who seek to destroy out cause. By the way don't forget your Tye dye shirts and your obviously well thought-out comments the next time you speak to the assembly/senate. I'm sure they will listen to what you have to say hahaha:)

Im so sick of the crap I followed all the laws of the legislation thay was passed spent all the money providing my self with my own medicine now your going to tell me that I have basicly spent all this money and higherd a electrician cut holes in my house for nothing just so now I can pack it all up and higher a drywall guy .and spend more money going to a dispensery what a load of crap we voted on a program that had the rules clearly stated I believe its unconstitutional to take away from what was already voted on by the people isent a amendment by definition almost mean to add to I dont belive its to take away from.